Hope Hall Gala Invitation Suite

 

In 2016, I started working with a new client, Hope Hall School. I designed the invitation suite for their yearly fundraising "Toast for Hope" gala. 

The pieces included:

Save the date postcard (2-sided)

Invitation (2-sided) with printed envelope

Response card (2-sided) with printed envelope

Program booklet (10 page, 2-sided) 

The theme was prom night, including a disco ball and silver glitter, also incorporating their corporate color, teal. Such a fun project! 

There was quite a bit of content included on both the invitation and the response card, which is why they were each 2-sided. I really enjoyed organizing all of the information and working to create a unified style. 

The program booklet took some creative formatting and organization as well, because there were a total of 20 pages to design (10 pages front and back), including adds, sponsors, auction items, schedule of events, board members, and more. I enjoyed getting to design a booklet like this and challenging my layout skills.

I'm so pleased with how all the pieces turned out! The client was very happy, too, which is the most important. Hope Hall School was wonderful to work with and I look forward to working with them again.

Suffering Succulents

Who doesn't love succulents? Maybe you call them "hens and chickens". Either way, these adorable green drought-resistant plants with rubbery leaves, in variety of shapes and sizes, have been all the rage for quite a while. I've been trying to keep some alive, indoors and outside, for years. 

Here's my latest indoor loss. This cute succulent from West Elm only lasted in my house about a year. Rest in peace. I never know if I water them too much or not enough! This is probably the third one I've managed to kill. Enough is enough. 

I started looking for inexpensive fake succulent alternatives. They can be a little pricey, depending on the size and container. Plus, I don't want them to look super-fake.  

I discovered single succulent pick stems at Walmart for just $1.99. It was the perfect size for the mercury glass vessel from my recently deceased plant.

I found a vase of sand lying around in my basement (because who doesn't have perfectly good sand lying around? This is why I never throw things out!). I used it to fill the container. 

And I stuck the succulent pick inside. Done! My own little DIY greenery for cheap. 

It's adds a little life in an otherwise dull area. 

THEN I found these little fake succulent containers at Target for just $3! THREE DOLLARS. There were a couple styles left, but I grabbed this one because it was different than the one I made. I think they are selling out fast.

I've seen similar styles for $8-15 and up. If you're looking for some adorable plants that you won't kill, to spruce up your decor, you can make your own or run to Target, ASAP. You can use any small container that you have - milk glass, mini flower pots, glass, mason jars, bowls. You could even get a small bouquet of individual pics and make a little garden or terrarium. Happy (fake) gardening!

Jones AC Services Logo

In the fall of 2016, I had the pleasure of re-branding Jones Air Conditioning Services, located in Delray Beach, Florida. Jonathan Jones, is the owner and operator (and he is married to my beautiful cousin). He's also one of the hardest working, nicest guys you'll ever meet. I was thrilled when he asked me to work with him to give his company a makeover and boost his brand identity. 

After designing a new logo and establishing colors, I applied it to corresponding business cards, carbon copy invoice forms and a large magnetic sign for his vehicle.  

This was such a fun project for me because I got to research and strategize the field of air conditioning services, which is one that I have not worked with prior. I enjoy creating artwork for different applications, too. This is my third vehicle related design. Thinking about magnetic signs driving around Florida gives my heart a little flutter.

I also couldn't have asked for a better client - not just because he's family, either. I really like being able to help support a family owned and operated business.

50th Surprise Birthday Party

In January, my sister, Lisa, threw her husband, Chris, a SURPRISE birthday party. And he was completely surprised! Success! This was a big birthday, too. 50! However, Chris certainly doesn't act or look his age! 

You make 50 look good, Chris! 

When Lisa started planning the party, I volunteered to design the invitations and help with decorations. I love party planning! 

We wanted to celebrate his 50 years in a fun, upbeat, and classy way. Lisa selected the color theme and plaid napkins in blue and green. Then we added touches of gold and silver. I cut out "50" numbers in gold, attached them to skewer sticks for each centerpiece and wrapped large mason jars with burlap. We filled them with paper filler, added curled ribbon and a Bible verse. I had silver chargers and enough small glass jars to hold flame-less candles, which we filled with rainbow sprinkles. How cute is that?! 

Lisa made a photo collage in the shape of "50" on foam core and we used my two burlap message boards to pin the rest. Everyone always enjoys looking at photos from throughout the years. 

It was a fun afternoon of celebrating with family and friends. 
 

Chris, you are loved by so many! God has blessed you with a beautiful family and dear friends. You are a testament of God's goodness and faithfulness and we are thankful for you!

My Jesus Story

I was challenged by my D-Group (my women's discipleship group that meets once a week and we study the Bible, pray and encourage one another in our relationship with Christ) to write my testimony and share it with someone. I've always struggled with sharing my testimony, especially out loud and in person, and I'm still intimidated by the word "testimony". It's always felt so big to me, like it needs to be a monumental story of epic proportions. I've known God as long as I can remember, and my story may seem simple. But, I've taken another stab at writing it down, in a condensed "elevator speech" approach, and I'm calling it "My Jesus Story" because it's all about Him, not me. 

Maybe someone needs to hear this today. Here goes. 

Although I grew up in a Christian home, raised by two Christian parents, and I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t expected to attend church, my relationship with God has been a lifelong journey. For almost 35 years, I’ve been growing and learning who God is. Strong roots took hold in me very early. I remember being just a little girl, praying in our kitchen with my mom, asking Jesus into my heart. I knew that Jesus loved me and that I loved Him and I wanted to follow him. I loved Sunday school and the church that my Dad pastored. But, life isn’t very complicated when you’re 5 or even 9 years old. I remember being baptized in Lake Ontario during a summer church picnic. I knew that I loved God, I chose to follow him and I wanted to be baptized. I was blessed to attend a Christian elementary and middle school, and then a Christian high school and college. It felt safe, and real, and I was surrounded by Christian friends, pastors, teachers and godly examples. I knew the truths of the Bible, right from wrong, and I sincerely desired to please God with my life. I went on youth retreats and even short term missions trips and tried to obey God by following the rules.

There came a point, however, in my teenage and college years, that I started wanting the approval and acceptance of friends and boys, more than I desired clinging to the straight and narrow. I wanted to test the waters and see what I might be missing. I was selfish and more focused on what I wanted, primarily in the area of dating and seeking attention from guys. Always on a mission to find “the one”. In high school, I made non-Christian friends at my first job. And when I turned 21, I experienced going out to bars, clubs and parties with friends. At times, I drank too much alcohol, acted in ways that weren’t the real me and I made regrets. I stayed in relationships that I knew I never should have started. All the while, trying to maintain my “good girl” appearance, compartmentalizing my life, lying to my family and myself. There came a point when it felt like I was living a double life. The girl that my family and church knew and expected me to be, and the girl who was looking for love, approval and fulfillment in the wrong things.

2003 was one of the worst years of my life at the time. It was the year I knew I needed to make changes and decide who I was really going to be. I had to decide if I was going to continue choosing sin and selfishness or if I was going to choose Jesus - for myself. Not because I was expected to, or because of the way I was raised, but because deep down in my heart I knew I needed Jesus more than anyone or anything. I wanted Him to be the leader of my life. I wanted to know God more - really know Him, not just the Bible stories I grew up with. I wanted the peace of God and joy in my heart again. I wanted to become who God wanted me to be, not who I wanted to be or who I thought I needed to be. I wanted my faith to be real.

As I took steps back to God, He loved me unconditionally and was so gracious and merciful. I began to see how deceitful my heart was and that I’d only caused myself pain by turning my back on God in certain areas of my life. I couldn’t see that the entire time, I was so loved and cherished by my Heavenly Father. It was something I knew in my mind, but the depth of that truth hadn’t fully made it’s way to my heart yet. I didn’t need to go searching. He was right there the whole time, loving me, teaching me, and drawing me to Him.

2003 was also the year that I met my husband (although I didn’t know it at the time). Just one example of God’s many gifts to me. When I look back at who I was during that difficult time, part of me longs to go back and do it over again so differently. I’d save my self the pain of having to learn things the hard way. I think about potential situations that God kept me from and circumstances that could have gone much differently, were it not for God’s hand on my life. God is so faithful! I am unworthy of His love. That’s what’s so beautiful about God’s grace. Even my rebellious heart and the mistakes I made were paid for when Jesus died for me. He loved me before I was even born and sacrificed His life to save me. Thank you, Jesus!

I feel like such a different person today than I was back then. I know that I am a daughter of God, loved and accepted, not because of anything I did, or ever could do, but because of Who God is. I don’t have to live up to a set of rules or try to be good enough. Jesus is enough. He is the reason I’m here today. Every day I learn more about who He is and I’m humbled by the way He loves me and cares for me. I am far from perfect, and there are many times I still have to remind myself that I am His.

I’m so thankful for Jesus, His blood that rescued me, and for the security of knowing I will spend eternity with Him in Heaven when my life is over. He changed my life. There have been difficult days, and there will be more hard times, but I know that I can face them all because of Jesus. I’m not alone and He has a purpose and a plan, for everything.

Today, I’m a wife and a mom and I’m learning more than ever what it means to be a follower of Jesus. My faith has grown so much since I asked Jesus into my heart when I was a little girl. The same Jesus has been there all along, every step of my journey, and I know He will be there for all the days to come. He is my everything.

Three Reasons to Give Thanks, Our Story Continued

As November draws to a close, I can’t help but remember that this month might have been our first baby’s fourth birthday. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to enter the month of Thanksgiving without remembering the life that wasn’t ours to hold here on Earth.

You can read Part 1 and Part 2 of our journey.

Today, it’s been about two months since we thought that we would be having another baby, our third. I never wanted to add another chapter to our story about miscarriage and loss.

But, God.

I keep being reminded that God’s divine timing is not ours.

Andrew and I are loving each stage with our almost 22 month old, on-the-go, cute-as-can-be, into everything, toddler, Marshall. He is funny and fast and just so lovable. We definitely want to have more children, if God chooses, and we recently thought that dream was coming true for us.

In September, I took three positive home pregnancy tests. And another at my doctors office to be sure. Pure excitement, amazement and happy shock! I couldn’t wait to share the incredible news with Andrew. We looked at each other in disbelief, hugged and cried tears of joy. Marshall was going to be a big brother! We couldn’t be happier.

The thing with having ever experienced a miscarriage, even after delivering a healthy baby, is that the fear and uncertainty doesn’t leave you. The “what if’s” are always there, looming, in the back of your mind. It overshadows your joy. It makes you halfheartedly believe. You try to be all-in excited, but your heart still remembers the hurt and the heartbreak you once knew, at a familiar time in the past. I wanted those worry-filled thoughts to disappear. To stop whispering doubt into my ear. To stop robbing me of the happiness of this moment. But it kept hanging around.

We daydreamed about welcoming a new baby into our family. We celebrated with pizza (fancy, I know). We started strategizing how to make additional room in our home. And we prayed. And we talked about our excitement and about our fears. We hoped and prayed that God wouldn’t allow us to walk down the road of loss again.

My first ultrasound was scheduled the following week (per my request), when we would be a little over seven weeks pregnant. I simply could not wait to see our tiny growing baby on the screen and see that precious little heart beating. Then, and only then, would I be able to rest a little easier and fully bask in the joy of this pregnancy. I needed to see it to believe it.

The day before our ultrasound, however, I knew something wasn’t right. In addition, I didn’t “feel” very pregnant in general, except for some occasional nausea. I told myself not to freak out and that every pregnancy is different. It was still early. I was just going to wait to see the doctor the next day.

We drove to the appointment, which is at the same hospital where Marshall was born, and we got ready to see our tiny new baby for the first time. Except, there was no baby on the screen. My womb looked empty. The technician kindly told us that she could not see a developing pregnancy and that she was going to go talk to the doctor. When the technician came back, she performed a second ultrasound to be sure. Then the doctor came in and confirmed the news we didn’t want to hear.

How could this be?

How could I be pregnant, but there not be a baby growing inside of me?

Miscarriage.

That ugly word.

Again.

Something didn’t go right. The baby we thought was developing, simply was not. Almost as quickly as we learned that we were pregnant, we were faced with the reality that we weren’t anymore.

I had blood work done to be sure. And a follow up appointment. And more blood work.

The verdict: miscarriage. There was nothing we could do to stop it or explain it. Our hearts were once again left broken and wondering why.

Why put our hearts and our hopes through that? Why get us excited and looking forward to another dream coming true, only to have it trampled and stolen so quickly away? Why must we relive such sadness and disappointment, a second time over? It doesn’t make sense. After experiencing the joy and answered prayer of allowing us to be Marshall’s parents, why revisit that place of deep loss?

His ways are not our ways.

I couldn’t utter a word on the drive home. I sobbed in Andrew’s arms when he held me in our kitchen, while Marshall played in the other room. How was I supposed to get through this day? How was I supposed to move forward? Why was this happening? Again. What a cruel trick. I felt so foolish. Foolish for believing. Foolish for hoping it to be true and for all to be well. Foolish for allowing myself to dream and to be excited.

When Marshall took a nap, I buried myself under a blanket and fell asleep. When I woke, somehow I felt better. Like it was all a dream. Like I knew that this was the way God wanted it to be and everything was in His very capable hands. I was reminded that I have been given a husband and a son and a beautiful life, and most importantly, the life-giving gift of salvation. I had to get up, keep going and hope again. A simple and ridiculously hard truth.

I can’t say that it doesn’t hurt, deeply, because it does. It stings. In moments that I don’t expect. But, the fact that I have my husband of eleven years, walking the same road beside me, and our beautiful son to take care of, makes it somehow easier and more bearable. God has always been so very good to us, in the good times and in the difficult times. I know that God is in control, through it all, and that I can trust him. Even when it doesn’t make sense to me. Even when I wish things had gone very differently.

I am truly amazed at how tangibly God has been surrounding me during these days and weeks. The Sunday before our ultrasound, our new pastor started a series entitled “Seasons.” It couldn’t have been more timely. Trusting God, no matter the circumstances. I felt like the message was just for us. The worship team sang “Thy Will Be Done,” by Hilary Scott. A song that has been narrating my life for weeks prior to all of this.

Three days after our ultrasound didn’t go as hoped, I attended the More Than Enough women’s conference with guest speaker Angie Smith. I first heard Angie speak on Mother’s Day, 2014, while we were still in a season of intense waiting to get pregnant, after our first miscarriage in 2012. I knew I would be in for some serious heart stirring. That was an understatement. On the drive there, I was able to share my heartbreak and pray with a dear friend, who could not have been a more perfect listening ear and compassionate heart. Her words and understanding surrounded me with such love and comfort. During the conference, the stories that were shared about reliance on our Heavenly Father during utter heartbreak and unthinkable loss were nothing short of inspiring, and so specific to what I was going through, that very day. I knew God had planned it, long before I purchased my ticket. Later in the conference “Thy Will Be done” was played. That same song, twice in one week. Once before and once after I found out that I miscarried.

I’m listening, God.

“I know you see me. I know you hear me, Lord. Your plans are for me. Goodness you have in store. Thy will be done.” That song has been speaking to my heart continually.

There are many moments that I have felt the hand of God holding me and healing my wounded heart. Through people I’ve had conversations with, a blog I came across, messages at church, songs, the sweet laugh of my son, the love of family and friends. It’s been a much different experience than our first miscarriage. Not because I’m any less sad or any less disappointed. I was in a very different place, prior to having our son, not knowing if I would get pregnant at all and be able to experience having a child. All of the praise and glory goes to God for his good gifts! I don’t deserve His love and mercy and pure abundance. I am overwhelmed by His goodness and grace. Such grace.

I’m sharing my story, in hopes that maybe it will help someone else. I also share it to proclaim that it’s only because of Jesus Christ that I’m able to get up every day. Before, during and after all of this. My life isn’t perfect - far from it. I have struggles and I’ve had to face some very difficult days throughout my life. Days that, were it not for my relationship with my Creator, my Heavenly Father, the Giver of Life, I don’t know how I would handle it. He is my Living Hope. He is the reason I have joy. True joy. Not just putting on a smile and pretending. Even during the hurt, I have hope. How can this be? Because I am loved and cherished and held by the God of the universe.

I wear three rings now. One with the birthstone or due date month of each of my three children. I get to cuddle and look into the eyes of one of those sweet children, every day. And I look forward to meeting our two precious gifts in Heaven. Three reasons to thank God.

I don’t really know how to close this. To be continued. Because I don’t know what the future holds. Anymore than I knew what the future held a few weeks ago. I’m learning, daily, that as much as I might try, I’m not in control. Of anything. Only God is. And I’m grateful for that, because if I was in control, oh, the mess I’d have made of my life by now. Thank you, LORD, that You are in control, and that You know what’s best for us. You truly are a good, good, Father, and you are so perfect in all of your ways. (Another song that gets to me every time is “Good, Good Father” by Chris Tomlin.)

If you have known the pain of loss, my prayer is that the God of all comfort will heal your heart. I also pray that if you don’t already know Him, that you would pursue a relationship with God, your Heavenly Father, who loves you like crazy. I’m proof that you can love Him and you can trust Him. He created you and knows your heart. He also knows what it’s like to have His heart broken, because He watched His only Son, Jesus, die for you and me. The ultimate gift of love.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

Wedding Invitation for Janelle and Jeffery

I've mentioned before that designing wedding invitations are some of my favorite projects. They feel more like fun than work! I'm especially honored when a past bride and groom recommend me to their friends. This was the case with Janelle and Jeffery. They were looking for a classic elegant invitation and response card to compliment their wine-colored October wedding, and were open to my ideas.

I presented three different designs and they selected the one focusing on their names with a hand-written style script font and elegant lines. This was fun for me, because I've been wanting to design an invitation like this.

The ink is burgundy and brown, printed on ivory paper with matching envelopes. Sometimes simple elegance is best.

 

Congratulations Janelle and Jeffery! I hope your wedding day was just perfect and I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness! It was a pleasure working with you.